Verizon will now charge more money for in-store activation of new phones

Verizon is changing its activation fee structure to encourage customers to purchase new phones online, according to Verizon CNET. Prior to this week, the standard activation fee, both for in-store activation and when purchasing a new phone online, was $ 30. Now, Verizon says you can save $ 10 by buying a new phone online, paying only $ 20 to activate it, but that you would do it through a Verizon retail store, will now cost you $ 40. The changes will come into effect on Thursday, CNET reports.

Generally, these activation fees tend to increase or decrease depending on a number of conditions, whether you use a prepaid or monthly plan, and you buy a new phone with a new range of services or that you you simply upgrade a service. device on an existing service line. Currently, the terms and conditions under which these new Verizon terms apply are unclear, but they appear to apply to both device upgrades and device activations, according to the company. CNET.

These price changes slightly place Verizon among the other carriers for online purchases, although all major telecommunications companies have adjusted the cost of royalties up and down over the years. AT & T still charges $ 25 if you bring your own phone to the network, or $ 45 if one of its two-year contracts is nearing completion, which are only available on certain phones. Sprint charges $ 30 anyway, while T-Mobile claims to have no activation fee, but actually charges you $ 25 for a SIM starter kit that is actually the activation fee.

In this case, we do not understand why Verizon charges more for in-store activations, although CNET reports that the company calls its activations in store involve "full service experience" no matter what it means.